Akwa Ibom state government has said the location of the Ibom Deep Seaport and Industrial City was chosen due to its viability and accessibility and not on sentiments.
Oro nation had on Tuesday disagreed with the state government over the name-change and relocation of the age-long Ibaka Deep Seaport.
According them, they would not concede to positions averse to their interest, especially as it relates to the Seaport.
But the state Commissioner for Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport Mr Akan Okon in response debunked the allegations by a section of Oro people that the “original” site of the seaport at “Ibaka Bay” was moved to another location due to sentiments against the people of Oron by other groups in the state.
Okon told newsmen in Uyo on Thursday that different locations were assessed by experts before the location which transversed both Mbo and Ibeno local government areas were selected.
The commissioner said the explanation on the choice of the approved location has become necessary inorder to educate and disabuse the minds of agitators and ensure a peaceful environment for the developement of the Seaport by the core investors.
He said government would not afford to be sentimental on a project of such magnitude and economic importance to the people of the state and Nigerians.
Okon explained that five locations along the Oron/Mbo/Ibeno coastline were considered and at the end of studies by experts the ‘seaside’ location was selected based on various factors including nearness to Deep Sea trade route, minimal environmental impact, ample space for variation and location within the industrial city.
Other factors in favour of the location according to the commissioner include minimal soil improvement, low maintenance cost, minimal social impact, low research and technical solutions, limited population and nautical accessibility.
Okon added that while the chosen location would be about 20 nautical miles from the deep sea trade route, the other locations could take up to 75 nautical miles to access the trade route.
He said while the seaport covered about 2,500 hectares of land,much of the industrial city covering over 14,000 hectares of land and the headquarters of the port would be located around the Mbo axis of the complex.
“Just like you have in Lagos, the Nigerian Ports Authority is in Lagos Island while the Port itself is in Apapa. So the main structure of the Port is in the seaside area while the headquarters is in the Mbo axis,” the commissioner said.
On the current state of developement of the facility, Okon said the committee was awaiting the approvals of the studies that would be used for the bidding of the various aspects of the seaport and industrial city while the project has progressed technically as projected.
